Word Keyboard Shortcuts: 112 Shortcuts in a Searchable List

Q: Do these shortcuts work on Mac?

Most work on Mac with Cmd in place of Ctrl, but several are different. This list is for Word on Windows.

Q: Which version of Word is this for?

Microsoft 365 and Word 2016 or later on Windows. Almost all of them also work in older versions.

Q: How do I make my own shortcut in Word?

Go to File › Options › Customize Ribbon and click Customize next to Keyboard shortcuts. Pick a command and press the keys you want.

Q: A shortcut does nothing for me. Why?

Another app or a keyboard language setting may be using the same keys. Try it with a different input language, or check your keyboard software.

Microsoft Word · Windows

Every Word shortcut, one keystroke away.

A searchable reference of 112 keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word — formatting, editing, navigation, tables and review. Search, filter by category, and tap any shortcut to copy it.

e.g.Ctrl+Shift+>orCtrl+Alt+1

112shortcuts

10categories

25to memorise first

Essential — learn first Productivity — big time-savers Advanced — power users+ together → in sequence

★

Start here — the 25 to memorise first

These cover most everyday writing and formatting in Word. Learn them first and the rest of the page becomes easy.

#	Shortcut	Action	Why remember it
01	`Ctrl`+`S`	Save	Save often — it costs one keystroke.
02	`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo	Reverse any mistake instantly.
03	`Ctrl`+`Y`	Redo / Repeat	Brings back an undo, or repeats your last action.
04	`Ctrl`+`C`or`Ctrl`+`X`or`Ctrl`+`V`	Copy, cut, paste	The three you will use most.
05	`Ctrl`+`A`	Select all	Select the whole document in one go.
06	`Ctrl`+`B`	Bold	Emphasise text without the ribbon.
07	`Ctrl`+`I`	Italic	Titles, terms and quotes.
08	`Ctrl`+`U`	Underline	Underline selected text.
09	`Ctrl`+`F`	Find	Opens the Navigation pane search.
10	`Ctrl`+`H`	Replace	Change a word everywhere at once.
11	`Ctrl`+`E`	Center	Center a title or heading.
12	`Ctrl`+`L`	Align left	Back to normal alignment.
13	`Ctrl`+`J`	Justify	Even edges on both sides.
14	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`	Heading 1	Builds the structure for a table of contents.
15	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	Normal style	Reset a paragraph to body text.
16	`Ctrl`+`Space`	Clear character formatting	Strips bold, colour and font changes.
17	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Copy and paste formatting	Format Painter from the keyboard.
18	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`>`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`<`	Bigger / smaller font	Resize text without the font box.
19	`Shift`+`F3`	Change case	Cycles lowercase, UPPERCASE and Capitalise Each Word.
20	`Ctrl`+`Enter`	Page break	Start a new page the right way.
21	`Shift`+`Enter`	Line break	New line without a new paragraph.
22	`F4`	Repeat last action	Apply the same formatting again and again.
23	`Ctrl`+`K`	Insert hyperlink	Link text to a web page or heading.
24	`F7`	Spelling and grammar	Run Editor before you send.
25	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8`	Show formatting marks	See spaces, tabs and paragraph marks.

Essential Shortcuts

File and editing basics you will use every time you open Word.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`N`	New document	Creates a new blank document.	Start a fresh letter or report.
`Ctrl`+`O`	Open	Opens the Open screen.	Open a recent file.
`Ctrl`+`S`	Save	Saves the current document.	Save after every meaningful change.
`F12`	Save As	Opens the Save As dialog.	Save a copy with a new name.
`Ctrl`+`P`	Print	Opens Print with a preview.	Check the layout before printing.
`Ctrl`+`W`	Close document	Closes the current document.	Close one file and keep Word open.
`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo	Undoes the last action.	Reverse an accidental delete.
`Ctrl`+`Y`	Redo or repeat	Redoes an undo, or repeats the last action.	Repeat a formatting change.
`Ctrl`+`C`	Copy	Copies the selection.	Reuse a paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`X`	Cut	Cuts the selection.	Move a paragraph elsewhere.
`Ctrl`+`V`	Paste	Pastes the clipboard content.	Paste copied text.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`V`	Paste Special	Opens Paste Special.	Paste as unformatted text.
`Ctrl`+`A`	Select all	Selects the whole document.	Change the font for everything.
`F4`	Repeat last action	Repeats the last command or formatting.	Apply the same style to several headings.
`Alt`+`Q`	Search the ribbon	Jumps to the Search box for commands.	Find a command you can’t locate.

Text Formatting

Change how characters look without reaching for the mouse.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`B`	Bold	Bolds the selection.	Highlight a key term.
`Ctrl`+`I`	Italic	Italicises the selection.	Book titles and foreign words.
`Ctrl`+`U`	Underline	Underlines the selection.	Underline a heading.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	Double underline	Applies a double underline.	Underline a total.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	Underline words only	Underlines words but not spaces.	Cleaner underlined phrases.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`>`	Increase font size	Increases to the next size in the list.	Make a title bigger.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`<`	Decrease font size	Decreases to the previous size.	Shrink a caption.
`Ctrl`+`]`	Font size +1	Increases the font size by 1 point.	Fine-tune a heading.
`Ctrl`+`[`	Font size −1	Decreases the font size by 1 point.	Fit text on one line.
`Ctrl`+`D`	Font dialog	Opens the Font dialog box.	Set spacing or effects.
`Shift`+`F3`	Change case	Cycles lowercase, UPPERCASE and Capitalise Each Word.	Fix text typed with Caps Lock on.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`	All caps	Formats letters as capitals.	Format a heading in capitals.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`	Small caps	Formats letters as small capitals.	Style acronyms or names.
`Ctrl`+`=`	Subscript	Toggles subscript.	H₂O, CO₂.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`	Superscript	Toggles superscript.	m², 1st, x³.
`Ctrl`+`Space`	Clear character formatting	Removes manual character formatting.	Clean up pasted text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Copy formatting	Copies the formatting of the selection.	Copy a heading’s look.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Paste formatting	Applies the copied formatting.	Apply it to other text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`H`	Hidden text	Formats the selection as hidden text.	Hide notes from printing.

Paragraph Formatting

Alignment, spacing, indents and styles for whole paragraphs.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`E`	Center	Centers the paragraph.	Center a title.
`Ctrl`+`L`	Align left	Left-aligns the paragraph.	Normal body text.
`Ctrl`+`R`	Align right	Right-aligns the paragraph.	A date at the top of a letter.
`Ctrl`+`J`	Justify	Justifies the paragraph.	Even margins in a report.
`Ctrl`+`1`	Single spacing	Sets line spacing to 1.0.	Compact body text.
`Ctrl`+`5`	1.5 line spacing	Sets line spacing to 1.5.	Readable assignments.
`Ctrl`+`2`	Double spacing	Sets line spacing to 2.0.	Drafts for review.
`Ctrl`+`0`	Space before paragraph	Adds or removes 12 pt before the paragraph.	Separate blocks of text.
`Ctrl`+`M`	Indent	Increases the left indent.	Indent a quotation.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`M`	Remove indent	Decreases the left indent.	Undo an indent.
`Ctrl`+`T`	Hanging indent	Creates a hanging indent.	Format a bibliography.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	Reduce hanging indent	Reduces the hanging indent.	Adjust reference lists.
`Ctrl`+`Q`	Clear paragraph formatting	Removes manual paragraph formatting.	Reset spacing and indents.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8`	Show formatting marks	Shows or hides paragraph marks, spaces and tabs.	Find extra spaces and breaks.

Styles and Headings

Styles keep a document consistent and build your table of contents.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`	Heading 1	Applies the Heading 1 style.	Chapter titles.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`2`	Heading 2	Applies the Heading 2 style.	Section titles.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`3`	Heading 3	Applies the Heading 3 style.	Sub-sections.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	Normal style	Applies the Normal style.	Turn a heading back into text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	List Bullet style	Applies the List Bullet style.	Quick bullet list.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`	Apply Styles	Opens the Apply Styles box.	Type a style name to apply it.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`S`	Styles pane	Opens the Styles pane.	Modify or manage styles.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left`or`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right`	Promote or demote	Raises or lowers a heading level.	Reorganise an outline.

Navigation

Move through long documents quickly.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`Left`or`Ctrl`+`Right`	Word by word	Moves one word left or right.	Jump to a typo.
`Ctrl`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Down`	Paragraph by paragraph	Moves to the previous or next paragraph.	Skim a long report.
`Home`or`End`	Start or end of line	Moves to the start or end of the line.	Add text at the end.
`Ctrl`+`Home`	Start of document	Jumps to the beginning.	Go back to the title.
`Ctrl`+`End`	End of document	Jumps to the end.	Continue writing.
`Page Up`or`Page Down`	Screen up or down	Scrolls one screen.	Read through a draft.
`Ctrl`+`G`	Go To	Opens Go To in Find and Replace.	Jump to page 25.
`Shift`+`F5`	Previous edit	Returns to where you last made a change.	Resume after reopening a file.
`Ctrl`+`F`	Navigation pane search	Opens the Navigation pane with search.	Find every mention of a name.
`Ctrl`+`F6`	Next window	Switches to the next open document.	Compare two documents.

Selection

Select exactly what you need, from a word to the whole document.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Shift`+`Left`or`Shift`+`Right`	Extend by character	Extends the selection one character.	Select part of a word.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right`	Extend by word	Extends the selection one word.	Select a phrase.
`Shift`+`Home`or`Shift`+`End`	To start or end of line	Selects to the start or end of the line.	Select the rest of a line.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`	Extend by paragraph	Selects to the start or end of the paragraph.	Select a paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Home`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`End`	To start or end of document	Selects to the start or end.	Select everything below.
`F8`	Extend mode	Press repeatedly: word, sentence, paragraph, document. Esc to stop.	Select a sentence in two presses.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F8`	Column selection	Turns on vertical block selection.	Select aligned text.
`Alt`+`Drag`	Vertical selection	Selects a vertical block of text with the mouse.	Remove leading numbers.

Insert and Breaks

Breaks, special characters and fields.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`Enter`	Page break	Inserts a manual page break.	Start a chapter on a new page.
`Shift`+`Enter`	Line break	Starts a new line in the same paragraph.	Addresses and poems.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	Column break	Inserts a column break.	Balance two-column text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`	Non-breaking space	Keeps two words on the same line.	Rs. 500 or 10 km.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`-`	Non-breaking hyphen	A hyphen that will not split across lines.	Phone numbers.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`C`	Copyright symbol	Inserts ©.	© 2026 XL n CAD.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`R`	Registered symbol	Inserts ®.	Brand names.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`	Trademark symbol	Inserts ™.	Product names.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`.`	Ellipsis	Inserts …	Trailing text.
`Alt`+`X`	Convert Unicode	Type a code such as 20B9, then press Alt+X.	20B9 → ₹
`Ctrl`+`K`	Hyperlink	Inserts or edits a hyperlink.	Link to a web page.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`D`	Date field	Inserts the current date as a field.	Date a letter.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`T`	Time field	Inserts the current time as a field.	Time-stamp notes.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`F`	Footnote	Inserts a footnote.	Cite a source.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`D`	Endnote	Inserts an endnote.	References at the end.

Fields and Tables

Update fields and move around tables.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`F9`	Update field	Updates the selected fields.	Refresh a table of contents.
`Alt`+`F9`	Toggle field codes	Shows or hides all field codes.	Inspect a TOC field.
`Ctrl`+`F9`	Insert field braces	Inserts empty field braces { }.	Build a custom field.
`Tab`	Next cell	Moves to the next cell; adds a row from the last cell.	Fill a table row by row.
`Shift`+`Tab`	Previous cell	Moves to the previous cell.	Go back to fix an entry.
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Tab inside a cell	Inserts a tab character in a cell.	Align text inside a cell.
`Alt`+`Home`or`Alt`+`End`	First or last cell in row	Jumps along the row.	Long tables.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Up`or`Alt`+`Shift`+`Down`	Move row or paragraph	Moves the row or paragraph up or down.	Reorder table rows.

Review and Proofing

Spelling, word count, comments and track changes.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`F7`	Editor	Checks spelling and grammar.	Proofread before sending.
`Alt`+`F7`	Next spelling error	Jumps to the next error.	Fix typos one by one.
`Shift`+`F7`	Thesaurus	Opens the Thesaurus.	Find a better word.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	Word count	Opens the Word Count dialog.	Check an article length.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`M`	New comment	Inserts a comment.	Leave a note for a reviewer.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	Track changes	Turns Track Changes on or off.	Track edits in a shared draft.

View and Window

Switch views and get more room to write.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`P`	Print Layout	Switches to Print Layout view.	The normal page view.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`O`	Outline view	Switches to Outline view.	Reorganise headings.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`N`	Draft view	Switches to Draft view.	Plain writing.
`Ctrl`+`F2`	Print preview	Opens print preview.	Check page breaks.
`Ctrl`+`F1`	Collapse ribbon	Shows or hides the ribbon.	More room to write.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`S`	Split window	Splits the window into two panes.	Compare the start and end.
`Ctrl`+`Mouse wheel`	Zoom	Zooms in or out.	Read small text.
`Alt`or`F10`	Key tips	Shows ribbon key tips.	Reach any command by keyboard.
`Shift`+`F10`	Context menu	Opens the right-click menu.	Mouse-free editing.

No shortcuts match that search.
Try a different word, or clear the filter to see all 112.

Tips to learn Word shortcuts faster

Start with the 25 above. Add two or three new shortcuts a week, and use each one deliberately until it becomes a habit.

Press Alt on its own to see the letter for every ribbon command. Any command in Word can be reached this way, even if it has no Ctrl shortcut.

Use styles (Ctrl+Alt+1 to 3) instead of making text big and bold. Word can then build your table of contents automatically.

FAQ

Do these shortcuts work on Mac?

Most work on Mac with Cmd in place of Ctrl, but several are different. This list is for Word on Windows.

Which version of Word is this for?

Microsoft 365 and Word 2016 or later on Windows. Almost all of them also work in older versions.

How do I make my own shortcut in Word?

Go to File › Options › Customize Ribbon and click Customize next to Keyboard shortcuts. Pick a command and press the keys you want.

A shortcut does nothing for me. Why?

Another app or a keyboard language setting may be using the same keys. Try it with a different input language, or check your keyboard software.

More shortcut guides

Shortcut references for the other apps you use every day.

Excel shortcuts PowerPoint shortcuts Google Sheets shortcuts Word tips and tricks AutoCAD commands

Compiled by Ajay Anand · XL n CAD — 112 shortcuts for Microsoft Word on Windows. Microsoft and Word are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.